For Special Protection Areas (SPA),
Proposed Sites for Community Importance (pSCI),
Sites of Community Importance (SCI) and
for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. SITE IDENTIFICATION
• 2. SITE LOCATION
• 3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION
• 4. SITE DESCRIPTION
• 5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS
• 6. SITE MANAGEMENT
• 7. MAP OF THE SITE

1. SITE IDENTIFICATION

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1.1 Type

A

1.2 Site code

BG0002057

1.3 Site name

Besaparski ridove

1.4 First Compilation date

2005-10

1.5 Update date

2015-07

1.6 Respondent:

Name/Organisation:	Ministry of Environment and Water, “National Nature Protection Service” Directorate
Address:	Sofia  22    Sofia    1000  Kn. Maria Luiza Blvd.
Email:	natura2000@moew.government.bg

1.7 Site indication and designation / classification dates

Date site classified as SPA:	2007-03
National legal reference of SPA designation	Site classified as SPA by Council of Ministers Decision No. 122/02.03.2007 (promulgated SG 21/2007).

Explanation(s):

Site classified as SPA by Council of Ministers Decision No. 122/02.03.2007 (promulgated SG 21/2007). Issued designation order by the Minister of Environment and Water with prohibitions and restrictions on activities contradicting the conservation objectives of the site – Order No. RD – 786/29.10.2008 (promulgated SG 106/2008), amended by Order No. RD – 78/28.01.2013 (promulgated SG 10/2013).

2. SITE LOCATION

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2.1 Site-centre location [decimal degrees]:

Longitude:	24.388611
Latitude:	42.109444

2.2 Area [ha]

14765.0525

2.3 Marine area [%]

0.0000

2.4 Sitelength [km] (optional):

No information provided

2.5 Administrative region code and name

NUTS level 2 code	Region Name
BG42	Yuzhen tsentralen
BG42	Yuzhen tsentralen

2.6 Biogeographical Region(s)

Continental

(100.00 %)

3. ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION

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3.1 Habitat types present on the site and assessment for them

No habitat types are reported for the site

3.2 Species referred to in Article 4 of Directive 2009/147/EC and listed in Annex II of Directive 92/43/EEC and site evaluation for them

Species					Population in the site						Site assessment
G	Code	Scientific Name	S	NP	T	Size		Unit	Cat.	D.qual.	A|B|C|D	A|B|C
						Min	Max				Pop.	Con.	Iso.	Glo.
B	A402	Accipiter brevipes			r		2	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A085	Accipiter gentilis			p	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A086	Accipiter nisus			c				P	DD	C	B	C	C
B	A086	Accipiter nisus			p	2	2	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A229	Alcedo atthis			p	8	10	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			p	3	9	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A053	Anas platyrhynchos			c				P	DD	C	B	C	C
B	A255	Anthus campestris			r	16	60	p		G	A	B	C	A
B	A091	Aquila chrysaetos			p	1	1	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A404	Aquila heliaca			p	6	6	i		G	A	A	C	A
B	A509	Aquila nipalensis			c		1	i		G	A	A	B	A
B	A089	Aquila pomarina			r	1	2	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A133	Burhinus oedicnemus			r	15	20	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A087	Buteo buteo			p	4	4	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A087	Buteo buteo			c				P	DD	C	A	C	C
B	A403	Buteo rufinus			p	7	14	p		G	B	B	C	A
B	A243	Calandrella brachydactyla			r	30	150	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A224	Caprimulgus europaeus			r	15	25	p			C	B	C	C
B	A136	Charadrius dubius			c				P	DD	C	B	C	C
B	A136	Charadrius dubius			r	1	5	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A031	Ciconia ciconia			r	20	20	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A030	Ciconia nigra			r	3	4	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A080	Circaetus gallicus			r	1	1	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A081	Circus aeruginosus			p	2	2	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A082	Circus cyaneus			w	3	8	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A083	Circus macrourus			c		1	i		G	C	B	C	B
B	A231	Coracias garrulus			r	7	10	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A038	Cygnus cygnus			w		52	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A429	Dendrocopos syriacus			p	20	30	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A027	Egretta alba			w		5	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A379	Emberiza hortulana			r	15	15	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A511	Falco cherrug			c		2	i		G	A	B	C	A
B	A511	Falco cherrug			p		2	p		G	A	B	C	A
B	A103	Falco peregrinus			r	1	1	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A099	Falco subbuteo			r	1	3	p		G	C	B	C	C
B	A099	Falco subbuteo			c				P	DD	C	B	C	C
B	A096	Falco tinnunculus			p	14	19	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A097	Falco vespertinus			c		14	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A092	Hieraaetus pennatus			r	1	1	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A439	Hippolais olivetorum			r	3	5	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A022	Ixobrychus minutus			r	1	5	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A338	Lanius collurio			r	200	250	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A339	Lanius minor			r	15	15	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A433	Lanius nubicus			r	10	15	p		G	B	A	C	B
B	A246	Lullula arborea			p	140	450	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A242	Melanocorypha calandra			p	320	1000	p		G	B	B	C	A
B	A230	Merops apiaster			c				P	DD	C	B	C	C
B	A230	Merops apiaster			r	150	200	p		G	B	B	C	B
B	A073	Milvus migrans			r	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	A
B	A094	Pandion haliaetus			c	1	2	i		G	B	A	C	A
B	A072	Pernis apivorus			r	1	1	p		G	C	B	C	B
B	A393	Phalacrocorax pygmeus			w	2	241	i		G	C	B	C	C
B	A249	Riparia riparia			r	350	350	p		G	C	A	C	C
B	A307	Sylvia nisoria			r		10	p		G	C	A	C	C

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, I = Invertebrates, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Type: p = permanent, r = reproducing, c = concentration, w = wintering (for plant and non-migratory species use permanent)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the Standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting (see reference portal)
• Abundance categories (Cat.): C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present - to fill if data are deficient (DD) or in addition to population size information
• Data quality: G = 'Good' (e.g. based on surveys); M = 'Moderate' (e.g. based on partial data with some extrapolation); P = 'Poor' (e.g. rough estimation); VP = 'Very poor' (use this category only, if not even a rough estimation of the population size can be made, in this case the fields for population size can remain empty, but the field "Abundance categories" has to be filled in)

3.3 Other important species of flora and fauna (optional)

Species					Population in the site				Motivation
Group	CODE	Scientific Name	S	NP	Size		Unit	Cat.	Species Annex		Other categories
					Min	Max		C|R|V|P	IV	V	A	B	C	D
B	A247	Alauda arvensis			1280	1280	p						X
B	A218	Athene noctua			16	16	p						X
B	A366	Carduelis cannabina			550	550	p						X
B	A363	Carduelis chloris			80	80	p						X
B	A211	Clamator glandarius			2	2	p						X
B	A347	Corvus monedula			55	55	p							X
B	A113	Coturnix coturnix			75	75	p						X
B	A377	Emberiza cirlus			7	7	p						X
B	A382	Emberiza melanocephala			105	105	p						X
B	A269	Erithacus rubecula			7	7	p						X
B	A359	Fringilla coelebs			35	35	p						X
B	A244	Galerida cristata			127	127	p						X
B	A251	Hirundo rustica			550	550	p						X
B	A271	Luscinia megarhynchos			200	200	p						X
B	A383	Miliaria calandra			500	500	p						X
B	A280	Monticola saxatilis			7	7	p						X
B	A278	Oenanthe hispanica			5	5	p						X
B	A435	Oenanthe isabellina			20	20	p						X
B	A235	Picus viridis			2	2	p						X
B	A276	Saxicola torquata			5	5	p						X
B	A210	Streptopelia turtur			15	15	p						X
B	A283	Sturnus roseus			60	60	i						X
B	A311	Sylvia atricapilla			70	70	p						X
B	A283	Turdus merula			115	115	p						X

• Group: A = Amphibians, B = Birds, F = Fish, Fu = Fungi, I = Invertebrates, L = Lichens, M = Mammals, P = Plants, R = Reptiles
• CODE: for Birds, Annex IV and V species the code as provided in the reference portal should be used in addition to the scientific name
• S: in case that the data on species are sensitive and therefore have to be blocked for any public access enter: yes
• NP: in case that a species is no longer present in the site enter: x (optional)
• Unit: i = individuals, p = pairs or other units according to the standard list of population units and codes in accordance with Article 12 and 17 reporting, (see reference portal)
• Cat.: Abundance categories: C = common, R = rare, V = very rare, P = present
• Motivation categories: IV, V: Annex Species (Habitats Directive), A: National Red List data; B: Endemics; C: International Conventions; D: other reasons

4. SITE DESCRIPTION

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4.1 General site character

Habitat class	% Cover
N06	5.00
N07	0.00
N08	6.00
N09	13.00
N10	0.00
N12	44.00
N15	3.00
N16	9.00
N17	0.00
N19	0.00
N21	6.00
N22	3.00
N23	11.00
Total Habitat Cover	100

Other Site Characteristics

The Besaparski Hills are located at the South West end of the Thracian plain near by the town of Pazardzhik, in the foothills of the Rhodopes Mountain. It includes the low ridges and the adjacent open areas, reaching the road to Peshtera to the west and the Vucha river to the east. Its northern limit is the Maritsa river and its southern passes through the grounds of the villages of Radilovo, Byaga, Kozarskoto and reaches the town of Krichim. The area includes also the fishponds next to the village of Trivoditsi. Besaparski Hills are limestone treeless hills. The average altitude is 350 m and maximum 536 m. About 90% of the area is occupied by dry calciphile and xerophyte grass associations and farmlands, as well as temperate shrub heath land. The most widespread grassland communities on the territory of Besaparski Hills are these of the Bread-grass Dichantium ischaemum due to the fact that the species is very resistant to grazing, trampling and especially erosion. There are isolated spots of broadleaved and mixed forests. Shrubs and low trees occupy a small share of the territory. Besaparski Hills represents calcareous hills with a characteristic flora, which defines their importance as refugia of rare, endemic and relict species. A local endemic species, Gypsophila tekirae, occurs on the ridges. Of the mammals the Souslik Spermophillus citellus deserves special attention, as it is the main prey of the diurnal raptors, some of which are very rare and threatened.

4.2 Quality and importance

The Besaparski Hills supports 86 breeding bird species, 15 of which are listed in the Red Data Book for Bulgaria (1985). Of the birds occurring there 43 species are of European conservation concern (SPEC) (BirdLife International, 2004), 2 of them being listed in category SPEC 1 as globally threatened, 12 in SPEC 2 and 29 in SPEC 3 as species threatened in Europe. The area provides suitable habitats for 25 species, included in Annex 2 of the Biodiversity Act, which need special conservation measures, of which 22 are listed also in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Besaparski Hills are of global importance for the for the conservation of globally threatened Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca and one of the most valuable sites for the statistical regions of the European Union concerning the breeding Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris, Long-legged Buzzard Buteo rufinus, Saker Falcon Falco cherrug, and Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra. As the area is rich of food it holds also significant breeding populations of other raptors as Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina, Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, etc. Species typical for the dry grasslands also breed there in representative numbers – the Stone Curlew Burchinus oedicnemus, the Greater Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydatyla, etc.

4.3 Threats, pressures and activities with impacts on the site

The most important impacts and activities with high effect on the site

4.4 Ownership (optional)

No information provided

4.5 Documentation (optional)

Initial proposal and description of the site made by Dimitar Demerdjiev - Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds, Bulgaria, 1111 Sofia, P.O.Box 50, phone (+359 2) 9715855, fax (+359 2) 9715856, www.bspb.org .Data revised by a team of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (http://www.bas.bg).Documents: BDZP, 2000. Finalen otchet na proekt “Kartirane gnezdovite nahodishta na carskia orel (Aquila heliaca) I merki za tiahnoto opazvane. 1998-2000, Plovdiv, BDZP, 89 s.;BDZP/BirdLife Balgariya. 2005. “Nacionalna banka za ornitologichna informacia 1988-2005”, Balgarsko Druzhestvo za zastita na pticite;Botev, B. and Tz. Peshev, (eds). 1985. Red Data Book of Republic Bulgaria. 2: Animals. Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Science. (In Bulgarian.);Iankov, P. 2002.(red.). Svetovno zastrasheni vidove ptici v Bulgaria. Nacionalni planove za dejstvie za opazvaneto im. Chast 1. BDZP-MOSV, Prirodozashtitna poredica, Kn. 4, Sofia: 204-219.;Kostadinova, I., S.Dereliev. 2001. Results the Mid-Winter Counts of Waterbirds in Bulgaria for the period 1997- 2001. BSPB Conservation Series. Book 3, BSPB, Sofia, BG;Michev, T., C. Petrov, L. Profirov, P. Iankov, S. Gavrailov. 1989. Razprostranenie I prirodozashtiten status na skalnia orel Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos (L.), 1758 v Bulgaria. – Izv. Muz. IU. Bulgaria, 15, 79-87.;MOSV. 2005. Arhiv na zastitenite teritorii v Balgaria. Baza danni (nepubl.);Petrov, .C 1997b. Beliat shturkel (Ciconia ciconia) v Bulgaria. Prirodozashtitna poredica, Kniga 2, BDZP, Plovdiv.;Petrov, C., P.Iankov, T. Michev, B. Milchev, L. Profirov. 1991. Razprostranenie, chislenost I merki za opazvane na chernia shturkel, Ciconia nigra (L.) v Bulgaria. – Izv. Muz. IU. Bulgaria, T. 17, 25-32.;BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, 695pp.Birdlife International. 2004. Birds in Europe: Population estimates, trends and conservation status. Cambridge, UK: Birdlife International (Birdlife Conservation Series No. 12).373pp.;BSPB/BirdLife International. 2005. World Bird Database – Important Birds Areas.Bulgaria. Cambridge. (unpublished);Guidelines for evaluation of protected zones according, which include habitats for birds to art.7, par.3, under the art.6 par.1.3 and 1.4 of the Biodiversity Act. 2005. (In Bulgarian.);Kostadinova, I., M. Mihailov, (comp.) 2002. Guide for NATURA 2000 in Bulgaria. BSPB nature conservation series No5. BSPB, Sofia, 80pp. (In Bulgarian.);Kostadinova, I. 2005. Application of C criteria for Identification of Important Bird Areas of European Union importance in Bulgaria. Preliminarily implementation and analysis of the gaps. – In: Petrova, A. (ed.), Current state of Bulgarian biodiversity – problems and perspectives. Pp. 533-548. Bulgarian Bioplatform, SofiaKouzmanov, G. 1996. L`Aigle pomarin Aquila pomarina en Bulgarie. – In: Meyburg, B.-U. & R. D. Chancellor eds. Eagle Studies. World Working Group on Birds of Prey (WWGBP), Berlin, London & Paris, 319-326.;Kouzmanov, G., G. Stoyanov, R. Todorov. 1996. Sur la Biologie et la Protection de l’Aigle royal Aquila chrysaetos en Bulgarie. - In: Meyburg, B.-U. & R.D. Chancellor eds. 1994. Raptor Conservation Today, WWGBP/ The Pica Press, 505-515.;Michev, T., Tz. Petrov, L. Profirov. 1989. Status, breeding, distribution, numbers and conservation of the White Stork in BulgariaMOEW. 1998. CORINE Biotopes Database of the sites of European Importance for the biodiversity. Bulgaria, MOSV (nepubl.);Osieck, E. 2000 Filling in the requirements of the EU Birds Directive: Lessons from the ‘Dutch Case’“. In: European IBA Workshop. 29 March - 2 April 2000, Brussels, Belgium. Proceedings. BirdLife International, 86-99;Waliczky, Z. 2000 “Important Bird Areas of European Union Importance: explanation of the EU Criteria applied in IBA 2000“ In: European IBA Workshop. 29 March - 2 April 2000, Brussels, Belgium. Proceedings. BirdLife International, 12-16

Link(s):http://natura2000.moew.government.bg/Home/ProtectedSite?code=BG0002057&siteType=BirdsDirective

5. SITE PROTECTION STATUS

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5.1 Designation types at national and regional level (optional):

Code	Cover [%]
BG00	99.00
BG06	1.00

5.2 Relation of the described site with other sites (optional):

Designated at national or regional level:

Type code	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
	IBA	=	100.00
BG06	OGNYANOVO-SINITEVSKI RID	+	1.00

Designated at international level:

Type	Site name	Type	Cover [%]
Other	IBA	=	100.00

5.3 Site designation (optional)

Only one small area, which covers less than 1% of Besaparski Hills territory, is under legal protection by the national nature conservation legislation. About 35% of the Besaparski Hills was designated as CORINE Site in 1998 because of its European value for rare and threatened habitats, plant and animal species. In 2005 it was designated also as Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

6. SITE MANAGEMENT

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6.1 Body(ies) responsible for the site management:

Organisation:	Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water-Pazardzhik,Plovdiv;East-Aegean River Basin Directorate;Forestry Departments - Krichim, Pazardzhik, Pestera;
Address:
Email:

6.2 Management Plan(s):

An actual management plan does exist:

	Yes
	No, but in preparation
X	No

6.3 Conservation measures (optional)

No information provided

 

7. MAP OF THE SITE

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